The term "Yulw log witch" refers to a mythical character associated with the tradition of Yule or Christmas logs in certain European cultures. The Yule log is an ancient tradition that involves burning a large log during the Christmas season. In some regions, particularly in Wales and parts of England, it was believed that a witch known as the Yulw log witch would come out of the log if not properly cared for. According to folklore, the Yulw log witch was a mischievous and malevolent being that resided within the Yule log. If the log was not selected and brought into the house with the appropriate rituals or if it was not given proper attention, the witch would emerge from the log and cause chaos and mayhem in the household. To prevent the Yulw log witch from causing trouble, people would carefully select a log, typically from an ash tree, that had been cut down on Midsummer Day or during the waxing moon.
Consider making holes for four candles and when you light them say “Log burn, wheel turn, evil spurn, Sun return!”
Whether you do it with witchy friends, or the most conservative of relatives, you can welcome back the light and have a little more magick in your holiday season. Potassium nitrate produced violet, barium nitrate showed apple green, borax yielded vivid green, copper sulfate begat blue, and table salt encouraged a bright yellow color to show in the flames.
To prevent the Yulw log witch from causing trouble, people would carefully select a log, typically from an ash tree, that had been cut down on Midsummer Day or during the waxing moon. The log would then be brought into the house on Christmas Eve and decorated with ribbons, evergreen sprigs, and holly berries. It was important to treat the log with respect and avoid any ill actions or harsh words towards it.
The Magick of Yule
The sights and sounds of the festive season are everywhere and the world is just that much more “magical”. Twinkling lights, time with loved ones, delicious baked goods, and greenery everywhere bring back the childhood joys of the season each and every year. For modern Pagans, Yule is the twelve day period that begins with the winter solstice and represents the longest nights of the year. It is a time of relaxation, rest, food, and drink. Many witches use this time to perform magic around protection or banishment for the coming year and do spellwork with a mind toward abundance and prosperity. For many it blends into a dual celebration of Christmas and straight into the new year.
While we all know that the 25th of December is the Christian and secular celebration of Christmas, this holiday too has its roots in the pagan celebrations and witchcraft celebration of Yule. Even today, many of the traditions, decorations, and foods associated with Christmas have one foot firmly planted in pagan traditions.
Yule and the Twelve Days of Christmas
The name of the holiday itself, Yule, comes from the Germanic pagan tradition and was associated with the Wild Hunt. The period began on the night of the winter solstice and continued for twelve days. Depending on the folklore of the region, the Wild Hunt was a procession of spectral huntsmen, most often led by Odin (sometimes referred to as Wodan). The members of the hunting party vary by region as well, but are often a familiar cast of characters of elves, fairies, or ghostly spirits. This twelve day period was accompanied by nights of feasting, drinking, and celebration. While there are most certainly not five golden rings, or maids a-milking involved in this festival until much later Christian variations, the twelve days of Christmas most certainly come from the traditional Yule period.
As a modern human, it can be nearly impossible to take a full twelve days to honor the Yule season, but as witchcraft practitioners, we can be more intentional about carving even a little bit of time for rest and relaxation during this period (the festivities and food tend to take care of themselves this time of year).
O Tannenbaum, The Holly and the Ivy, and Yule Logs
The tradition of bringing in a tree or greenery during this time of year also connects back to pagan customs throughout Europe. Considered a symbol of everlasting life and the promise of spring’s return, evergreens like holly, ivy, mistletoe and pine were brought indoors throughout the season. In the Germanic and Norse traditions, holly was thought to protect homes from lightning strikes and its combination with ivy symbolized fertility. Similarly, mistletoe was linked to fertility as well, hence the tradition of kissing beneath it. In the Celtic tradition, fairies were thought to live in evergreens and bringing the plants indoors in the winter to offer them shelter was thought to bring their blessings.
Ancient peoples likely did not have homes large enough to bring in a full tree for the season, but the custom likely comes from both bringing evergreens into the home as a symbol of new or returning life and the Yule Log. The Yule Log was either a large log or entire tree that would be burned in the hearth through the twelve days of Yule to bring light into the home during the darkest nights.
While no one expects you to fell a tree and burn it for twelve days straight in your fireplace (if you even have one!), but bringing in a pine tree, more greenery, or even a fake tree can help you connect with this spirit of this time of year. Additionally, the lunar traditions around the selection and cutting down of holiday trees may be a way for you to infuse the season with a subtle witchy flare. If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace or pit, you could perform a Yule Log ritual by charging a log with your intentions and burning it throughout the Yule season. If that doesn’t speak to you, try this witchy hack from a previous Yule vlog and write things you would like to release down on bay leaves, insert them into pinecones, and add those to your fire. Should you be lacking in a fireplace, you could do a little crafting and make a log the centerpiece for your table or mantle and surround it with candles.
Decorations
For many novice or broom-closetted witches, Yule can be a particularly easy holiday to celebrate under the radar, because unlike other sabbats, the decorations are indistinguishable from Christmas decorations. In fact, with the exception of nativity scenes and crosses, most Christmas decorations come from pagan symbols of the season.
Traditional Christmas tree decorations like multi-colored orbs, tinsel, beaded garlands, animals, and mushrooms all link back to pagan symbols of fertility, abundance, and prosperity. Whether they represented returning life, foods that would sustain us through the winter months like nuts, mushrooms, or cranberries, or the light in the darkness, these decorations are a subtle connection between modern Christmas and its pagan roots.
The colors of Christmas, red and green, or white, blue, silver, and gold also come from pagan traditions and have simply folded their way into modern Christmas celebrations. In Europe the red and green combination is thought to come from the Celtic tradition of bringing holly (green with red berries) indoors during the season. It is said that the Celts thought holly was meant to keep the earth beautiful during the barren dead of winter. In North and Central America, the poinsettia plant can be sighted as the origin of the association of red and green with Christmas.
White, blue, silver, and gold as a color combination also comes from the natural world and the symbolism of the holiday. As Yule is a holiday that celebrates the returning of the light after the longest night of the year, it is no surprise to find blue, in particular midnight blue, among holiday decor. Symbolizing the darkness of the night, blue is often combined with lighter blues, white, and silver, to symbolize the slow return of the light to the natural world. And finally, gold represents the sun returning to its full strength and showering its blessings on the earth to bring back the abundance of the spring, summer, and harvest seasons.
So go ahead, deck your halls with boughs of holly, kiss under the mistletoe, and burn a suspiciously large log in your fireplace this year. Whether you do it with witchy friends, or the most conservative of relatives, you can welcome back the light and have a little more magick in your holiday season!
For even more about the history and traditions of Yule, be sure to check out the Yule videos on my YouTube channel and comment with your favourite tradition or any seasonal folklore from wherever you are in the world.
Decorations
On Christmas Day, the log would be lit and burn throughout the festivities. It was believed that the Yulw log witch would stay within the log as long as it was well-tended and cared for. If the log burned properly and was completely consumed by the end of the twelve days of Christmas, it was seen as a good omen for the year ahead. The Yulw log witch represented the belief that the log itself contained a spiritual presence or guardian that needed to be appeased and respected. It served as a reminder to treat the Yule log, and by extension, the holiday season with reverence and appreciation. Although the tradition of the Yule log witch has largely faded away in modern times, it provides an interesting glimpse into the folklore and superstitions associated with the Christmas season in different cultures. It also highlights the importance of rituals and beliefs in bringing communities together during this festive time of year..
Reviews for "The Influence of Yulw Log Witch on Traditional European Folklore"
1. John Smith - 1 star - I really couldn't get into "Yulw log witch". The plot was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters were one-dimensional. I found myself struggling to stay engaged throughout the book, and ultimately found it to be a disappointing read. I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Mary Johnson - 2 stars - "Yulw log witch" was not my cup of tea. The writing style felt disjointed and there were too many unnecessary descriptions that made the story drag on. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest quickly. The story lacked a strong plot and the characters were forgettable. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and wouldn't read it again.
3. David Anderson - 1 star - I honestly don't understand the hype around "Yulw log witch". It lacked coherence and failed to establish a clear direction. The writing was convoluted and overwritten, making it difficult to connect with the story. The characters were boring and lacked depth, leaving me feeling indifferent towards their fates. I regret picking up this book and wouldn't recommend it to anyone seeking a captivating read.
4. Sarah Thompson - 2 stars - "Yulw log witch" left me wanting more. The story had potential, but it fell short in execution. The narrative seemed rushed and didn't allow for proper development of the plot or the characters. I found myself confused and disconnected from the story, as everything seemed to happen without reason or purpose. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't consider it a memorable read.
5. James Wilson - 1 star - I had high hopes for "Yulw log witch", but it ended up being a major letdown. The writing was overly descriptive and lacked a clear direction. The story didn't seem to go anywhere, and the characters felt shallow and uninteresting. I struggled to find any purpose or meaning in this book, and ultimately ended up feeling unsatisfied. I wouldn't recommend it to others, as I believe there are much better novels out there to invest your time in.